On National Equal Pay Day, we are reminded of how we impede our own success when we refuse to compensate women equally. Women still make just 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Over a lifetime, that adds up to more than $430,000 in lost compensation for her, her family, and our economy. For Hispanic and African American women, the gap is shamefully even greater.

The GOP Shutdown cost our economy $24 billion and accomplished nothing. Yet, GOP Leader Ted Cruz still thinks it was a good idea. If we want to prevent future manufactured crises, we need to vote Ted Cruz and the rest of the Tea Party out of office. Help Democrats today so we have the resources we need to fight back in 2014.

The GOP Shutdown cost our economy $24 billion and accomplished nothing. Yet, GOP Leader Ted Cruz still thinks it was a good idea. If we want to prevent future manufactured crises, we need to vote Ted Cruz and the rest of the Tea Party out of office. Help Democrats today so we have the resources we need to fight back in 2014.

Democrats are going to work tirelessly over the next year to take back the House and elect a Congress that President Obama can work with. Chip in to help support candidates who will govern responsibly.

Absurd doesn't begin to describe this situation. Hundreds of thousands of government employees are stuck at home and the national parks are closed. The FDA's not checking meat for contamination, the CDC has halted monitoring the flow of infectious diseases, and children aren't getting cancer treatments from the NIH. Soon our veterans won't be getting benefits. And yet, a majority of our lawmakers are ready to vote for a budget resolution that the President will sign.

I know how crazy this is, and so do you. But it looks like Speaker Boehner will need a little help to reach that conclusion. And I don't think an email from me is going to do the trick.

Which is exactly why we need Americans from all across the country to help bring this madness to an end.